Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of British Ready-to-Wear

A new exhibition at The Harris celebrates the enduring style legacy of Horrockses Fashions, the post-war British label that transformed printed cotton into one of the most stylish statements of the 1950s wardrobe.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the brand’s first collection, Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of British Ready-to-Wear explores how the Lancashire-based company fused couture sensibilities with high-quality printed cottons to create dresses that were at once accessible, stylish and unmistakably modern.

Horrockses quickly became synonymous with effortless elegance. Its dresses were worn by women from all walks of life, from mill workers to members of the royal family. Famously, Queen Elizabeth II packed several Horrockses cotton dresses for her 1953–54 Commonwealth tour, demonstrating how the brand’s refined yet practical designs could move seamlessly from garden parties to global diplomacy.

Central to Horrockses’ success was its pioneering approach to textile design. The company collaborated with leading artists and designers to create distinctive fabrics that elevated ready-to-wear fashion into a form of wearable art. Bold florals, graphic geometrics and striking modernist motifs appeared on the brand’s full-skirted silhouettes.

Drawing on the world’s largest museum collection of Horrockses garments, this exhibition reveals the creativity, craftsmanship and cultural significance behind one of Britain’s most beloved fashion labels.

The exhibition is curated by fashion historian Scott Schiavone and accompanied by the publication Everyday Glamour: Horrockses Fashions From Royalty to Ready-To-Wear. The book explores the origins of the brand, its influence on mid-century fashion and its continuing appeal for collectors and vintage fashion enthusiasts today.